The Georgia Aquarium spans 10 acres and holds 11 million gallons of water
The Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta is one of the largest aquariums in the world by water volume. The main building covers about 550,000 square feet — roughly the size of nine football fields — and the entire facility, including outdoor habitats and support areas, sits on 10 acres of land. The aquarium holds 11 million gallons of saltwater and freshwater combined, making it substantially larger than most aquariums you'll visit in other cities.
To put that in perspective, the largest tank alone — the Ocean Voyager exhibit — contains 6.3 million gallons and is home to whale sharks, manta rays, and thousands of fish. A single tank that size is bigger than many entire aquariums elsewhere. The building itself is divided into multiple galleries and wings, each with its own collection of habitats, so you could spend a full day walking through without seeing everything.
Key Takeaways
- The Georgia Aquarium holds 11 million gallons of water across multiple exhibits and is one of the world's largest by volume.
- The Ocean Voyager tank alone contains 6.3 million gallons and is the centerpiece of the facility.
- The main building covers 550,000 square feet, with an additional 10 acres of grounds for outdoor habitats and support facilities.
- The aquarium is divided into distinct galleries — Tropical Diver, Cold Water Quest, Beluga Whales, and others — each with separate tank systems and animal collections.
How the tanks are organized by exhibit
The aquarium is not one giant tank but a series of separate exhibits, each with its own water systems and animal populations. The Ocean Voyager is the flagship — the one with whale sharks — but it is only one part of the facility. Other major galleries include Tropical Diver (coral reefs and tropical fish), Cold Water Quest (beluga whales, sea otters, and cold-water species), and Georgia-Pacific Cold Water Quest (freshwater habitats).
Each gallery has multiple tanks of varying sizes. Some are small viewing tanks for seahorses or jellyfish; others are massive walk-through tunnels where water surrounds you on three sides. The facility also includes a separate building for the Beluga Whale habitat, which is one of the largest indoor pools for belugas in the world. This separation means the aquarium can maintain different water temperatures, salinity levels, and filtration systems for different animal groups without them interfering with each other.
What the building layout looks like
When you enter, you move through multiple levels and wings. The main atrium opens into the Ocean Voyager exhibit, which is visible from several vantage points — you can view it from the main floor, from an upper mezzanine, and from an underwater tunnel. From there, hallways branch off to other galleries. Some exhibits are on the ground floor; others require you to go up or down stairs to reach them.
The facility is designed so you can follow a general path through the building, but you can also skip exhibits or backtrack if something catches your interest. Outdoor areas include the Tropical Diver Splash Pad (seasonal) and viewing areas for sea otters and other animals in outdoor pools. The entire complex is climate-controlled, so the building itself stays cool year-round to maintain water temperatures for the animals.
How many animals live there
The aquarium houses over 100,000 animals representing more than 500 species. That number includes everything from tiny seahorses and jellyfish to whale sharks, belugas, and sea otters. The whale sharks are the largest animals — they can grow to 40 feet or longer — but they share the Ocean Voyager tank with manta rays, groupers, and thousands of smaller fish.
The animal population is not static. Some species are on breeding programs, so the number of juveniles changes seasonally. The aquarium also rotates some exhibits or brings in temporary displays, so the specific animals you see may differ depending on when you visit. Staff maintain detailed records of each animal's health, feeding schedule, and behavior as part of standard aquarium operations.
Comparison to other major aquariums
The Georgia Aquarium is the second-largest aquarium in the world by water volume. The only larger one is the Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium in Japan, which holds about 7.5 million gallons in its main tank alone (though the facility's total volume is comparable). In the United States, the Georgia Aquarium is the largest. The Monterey Bay Aquarium in California is well-known but significantly smaller, with around 750,000 gallons total.
Size alone does not determine what you will see — smaller aquariums often have specialized collections or unique exhibits. But the Georgia Aquarium's scale means it can house large animals like whale sharks and belugas that require enormous tanks, and it can maintain multiple distinct ecosystems (tropical, cold water, freshwater) under one roof. That combination of size and variety is what sets it apart from most other facilities in North America.
How the water systems work at that scale
Running 11 million gallons of water requires industrial-scale filtration and treatment. The aquarium uses a combination of mechanical filters (which remove particles), biological filters (which use bacteria to break down waste), and chemical treatment to keep the water clean and safe for the animals. Different exhibits have separate systems — the saltwater tanks do not share pumps or filters with the freshwater ones, for example.
The facility also has backup systems for power and water circulation. If the main pumps fail, backup generators and secondary pumps kick in automatically to keep water moving and oxygenated. The aquarium staff monitors water chemistry (pH, salinity, oxygen levels, ammonia, nitrate) continuously, sometimes multiple times per day in critical tanks. This level of monitoring is necessary because even small changes in water quality can stress or harm the animals.
Planning a visit based on the size
Because the aquarium is large, plan to spend at least three to four hours if you want to see most exhibits without rushing. If you have young children or want to spend time at interactive exhibits like the touch pools, add another hour or two. The facility provides maps at the entrance, and staff can point you toward specific exhibits if you are interested in particular animals.
The building can get crowded, especially on weekends and during school holidays. If you visit during off-peak times (weekday mornings or late afternoons), you will have an easier time moving through exhibits and viewing animals without large crowds. The aquarium also offers timed entry tickets, which can help manage crowd flow. Wear comfortable shoes — you will be walking on concrete floors for hours, and there are stairs between levels.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to see everything at the Georgia Aquarium?
Most visitors spend three to four hours seeing the major exhibits without rushing. If you want to watch animal feedings, participate in interactive exhibits, or spend time at the touch pools, plan for five to six hours. You can see the highlights in two hours if you move quickly and skip some galleries.
Is the Georgia Aquarium bigger than the Monterey Bay Aquarium?
Yes. The Georgia Aquarium holds 11 million gallons total, while Monterey Bay holds around 750,000 gallons. However, Monterey Bay is known for its specialized exhibits and is located on the California coast, so it features different animals and a different visitor experience despite being smaller.
Can you see the whale sharks from multiple angles?
Yes. The Ocean Voyager tank is visible from the main floor, from an upper mezzanine level, and from an underwater tunnel where you walk beneath the tank. This design lets you view the whale sharks and other large animals from different perspectives throughout your visit.
Are there outdoor exhibits, or is everything indoors?
Most exhibits are indoors in the main building, but the facility includes outdoor areas with sea otters, tropical fish splash pads (seasonal), and other animals in outdoor pools. These are smaller than the main indoor exhibits but offer a different viewing experience.
How often do they change the animals or exhibits?
The core animal collection is permanent, but the aquarium rotates some temporary exhibits and brings in seasonal displays. Some animals breed in captivity, so juvenile populations change seasonally. Staff also move animals between tanks for health or behavioral reasons, but the major exhibits and their primary animals remain consistent year to year.